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Monique Verhoef lights candles as friends and fellow students of Jordan Segura and Kaiti Perras gather at a vigil at Mount Royal University in NW Calgary, Alta. on Thursday April 17, 2014. A number of students, friends and staff joined together to remember them and the three other young people killed on April 16th, 2014 at the hands of the accused Matt de Grood at an end of school year party. The Stuart Dryden/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

De Grood, 22, appeared in provincial court via closed-circuit TV after undergoing a 30-day assessment at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre (SAFPC).

Judge Bob Wilkins noted a report had been filed by the doctor who assessed de Grood, who faces five charges of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of five people at an April 15 house party to celebrate the end of the school year.

"It indicates that Mr. de Grood is fit to stand trial," Wilkins said.

But despite the finding by Dr. Reilly Smith, defence counsel Allan Fay said his client will continue to be housed at the psychiatry centre due to ongoing mental health issues.

"Dr. Smith has recommended that Mr. de Grood go back to SAFPC," Fay said.

"Under a mental health certificate?" Wilkins asked.

"Yes," Fay said.

A finding that someone is fit to stand trial simply means they comprehend the legal process and can provide their lawyer with instructions on how to proceed with the case.

Outside court, the lawyer said de Grood remains certified under the Mental Health Act and will stay at the forensic centre until doctors deem him fit enough to be sent to the Calgary Remand Centre.

"He remains there until it's determined his mental health no longer requires it," Fay said. "The doctors have determined he needs ongoing treatment."

He said his client is trying to cope as best he can considering his circumstances.

"He's obviously worried and apprehensive about what happened and what will happen," Fay said.

The lawyer added de Grood's parents, Susan and Doug, a Calgary police inspector, have been able to visit their son.

"They're as well as can be expected -- obviously this has been very stressful on them," Fay said.

Edmonton Crown attorney Neil Wiberg said it will be months before the case goes to either preliminary inquiry, or trial.

He said he will consider filing a direct indictment in the case, which would mean de Grood would not have a preliminary inquiry, but go straight to trial.

"That's a possibility," Wiberg said, when asked about a direct indictment.